Robert Scigliano

Robert Scigliano, distinguished teacher and scholar, died peacefully with his family by his side, on October 14, 2019, in Concord, New Hampshire, after 94 very full years of life.

Robert was born in Boston's North End to Edward and Alma (Mazzei) Scigliano. After his father's untimely death, he was raised with 10 siblings and stepsisters by Alma and his stepfather P.F. Russo in Hyde Park, Mass. He joined the Navy at age 17 and served from 1942-46 on minesweepers in the Atlantic and destroyers in the Pacific. After the war, he enrolled at Compton Junior College under the GI Bill and revealed a thirst for knowledge that would carry him to bachelor's and master's degrees in political science at UCLA, where he met his future wife, and a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, where he studied under the constitutional scholar Herman Pritchett and the political philosopher Leo Strauss.

Professor Scigliano taught for two decades at Michigan State University and SUNY Buffalo, then returned to his beloved hometown for a 31-year career at Boston College, where he helped build a respected political science program. "He became a remarkable and devoted teacher", said his longtime BC colleague and friend, Robert Faulkner. His discerning judgment, penetrating intellect, and fairness were valued by colleagues and students alike. When Brian Lamb of C-Span's Book Notes asked why he taught, Scigliano replied, "To touch souls, the closest thing to being in a priesthood."

He wrote respected books on the judicial process, the Supreme Court and the presidency, illuminating the promise and complexity of the plans of the country's founding fathers and framers. Having served from 1957 to 1959 with the Michigan State University Group in Vietnam, he wrote judicious yet penetrating critiques of the Saigon regime and the MSU project, and was with a co-author the first to disclose its infiltration by the CIA.

In 2001 Scigliano capped his career by editing a new edition of The Federalist, foundational documents that he had passionately studied for decades. But his interests also ranged widely. He was an avid student of French language and literature and once taught a university class, in French, in Paris. He was a fiercely competitive hearts and handball player. He loved poetry, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Mozart, as well as travel, sailing, kayaking, hiking, and sharing these pleasures with family and friends.

He is preceded by his wife of 62 years, June Buerge Scigliano. He is survived by their children Eric (Seattle WA), Brian (Boise ID), Claire (Concord NH) and John (Vancouver WA); his sisters Audrey Vaughn and Alma Gleason of Palm Desert CA; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is greatly missed.